50th Reunion Class Gift:establishing your legacy

At our 45th reunion, the class approved the ’73 Legacy Gift concept: instead of getting our ’73 classmates to open their wallets and bank accounts, we would instead strive to get classmates to include the Academy in their wills and estate plans.

There is an over-riding motive: we do not want any more classmates to die intestate.

From surveys, over half of Americans die without a will. Unfortunately, our classmates have not been an exception in this regard. In the last decade we know of classmates who had not prepared for their deaths, even when they had a terminal illness. Our goal is to get every ’73 classmate and spouse to prepare or update their wills by our 50th reunion.

This planning package is from the USAFA Endowment. Save, and use, this estate planning packet! If you do not have a current will or equivalent, use it as a resource. Research your state’s laws, engage a lawyer, talk to classmates and friends. Discuss with your spouse, family, and loved ones. Consider first your family’s needs, and then consider if you want to support your faith organization and/or the causes you feel passionate about. But please also remember your Academy.

How? A number of classmates have already pledged, in their estates, to the ’73 NCLS Fund. We have also established the ’73 Long Blue Line Endowment with the AOG that will annually direct support to cadet and graduate programs and services…in perpetuity. The USAFA Endowment further has 250 funds for your consideration that cover almost every Academy itch you may want to scratch.

Talk with us. We will continue this conversation for the next four years.